The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-21
GOVERNMENT IN PERSIA.
The Peculiar System of Robbery OF
Which the Shah is the Head.
El,o1n M IA. .Lnnles Gnzette.


From the 50. James Gazette.
The art of government in Persia is gener-
ally learned after long and arduous ap-
premiership The son of some great man,
perhaps when quite little fellow-a boy
say, of lois sent to an outlying province,
district, or city. as Governor. But it is a
merely nominal governorship, the real
power being exercised by some experienced
courtiers One of the most successful Gov
ernors in Persia it has been the writer's lot
to know was H. r. II. tle Imad-u Dowlet,
the Pillar of the State For many years
the old Prince was Governor of the province
OF which KCrmanshah was the capital. For
nearly a quarter Of century he ruled this
province with energy and success He en-
ricfed himself, ne enriched his sons, his tfri-
behring's became wealthy men, and he did
not grind the faces of the poor During his
lifetime Ardelan seldom suffered from fam
inc; and whatever the price of bread was
anywhere else in Persia, it was always less
in the Imad-u-Dowlet's government.
Provincial governors, though they be the
Kings own uncles, brothers, or even sons,
are looked upon by all Persians as the law
full prey of the King of Kings. In the
Court phrase Governor may be ''unripe,"
'squeeZable,n or ripe" Ii he has just
joined his appointment and has no private
property, then there is nothing to be got out
of him, and it would even be bad policy to
plumber the man; for the unfortunates
under his rule, who had been chastlsed by
his predecessor with whips, would certainly
be chastised by him with scorpions. When
Governor has been nearly year in his
province, unless there has been a famine, or
he is fool, or he has scruples (which last is
very seldom, he ought to be decidedly
''squeeable If he remain over two
years in his province, he should be quite
''ripe"
The Asylum of the Universe" which is
the commonest title of the King of Persia,
is a wise man according to his lights. He
never kills the goose with the golden eggs.
But regularly, as each New year comes
round, all the provincial Governors of Per-
STA undergo the process of squeezing at the
royal hands. There must be decency in all
things, and the King puts the matter deli
cately enough. The Prime Minister sends
for the agent of the gentleman who is to be
submitted to the process. The agent, know
ing well what is coming, slaves off the evil
day, perhaps for week or two, by taking
to his bed and feigning serious illness. This
is an opportunity for the King to do
turn to one Of the royal physicians,
who is Immediately dispatched to the
invalid. As long as the agent wishes to be
ill, he must freely bride the court doctor,
but more perenptory message or more re-
summon him to the presence of the Minis
ter. The great man points out that he him
self is the victims personal friend, that as
such he feels it only kind to communicate
in confidence the fact that a very large sum
indeed has been offered for the governor
ship. The agent hastens to assure the Min
ister Of his principals gratitude, which he
proves by an immediate bride. He then
devotes his entire attention to try
nf
his principal in Office for a less
amount than the sum which is supposed to
hove been offered by the rival. In some
cases he may even tender the same sum as
present to the king, or. if the Governor be
very rich, or has been particularly lucky in
feathering his nest, perhaps a still larger
one. Thus year by year every governor
ship-nay, every office-in Persia is practi-
cally sold to the highest bidder. The Prime
Minister himself has to go through exactly
the same painful process; for all great Off
ceS are really held by an annual tenure
though nominally during the Kings pleas
ure. The prices paid for the various APP
pointments are the common talk in the
bazaar.
A Governor, then, must have been very
fortunate, indeed, and skillful plunderer
too, to keep his hold upon province for a
period so long as that which the Imad-u-
Dowlet had enjoyed. 1t must be remem-
bered that Governor is not only response
BILE for the tranquility of the province over
which he rules, but he is also personally re-
liable for the revenue. Each year the
King attempts to raise the revenue each
year Governors attempt to get it reduced
On rare occasions, as in times of famine,
the Shah is reluctantly compelled to remit
a portion of it. Now the profits of a pro
vincial governor consist, first, in the amount
of revenue he can wiring from the taxpayers
over and above that demanded by the Shah ;
secondly, in the brides he can exact from
his understrappers ;.then in his various per-
quisites in the shape of fines legally
or illegally imposed, amounts received from
criminals or accused persons, brides taken
from both parties in civil actions, spoliations
from the estates of deceased persons; and.
lastly, sums OF money, goods. houses or
land got by simple extortion. When gov
ernor has once taken root in province, and
is well aware now far he can go with impu-
nifty In his exactions from the provincial
magnates, it is pretty plain sailing for him.
But the natural Jealousy OF the King does
not as rule permit a governor to remain
for more than two or three years at the
same post Exceptions, however, are some
times made in favor OF the Kings own inn
mediate relatives. The Imad-u-Dowlet, the
Kings uncle, was one of these fortunate
men. At the present moment the Kings
| elClVSU SOH, Due Lil-SS-ouiUdIl, mas Deen IOf
some years local Governor of southern Per-
| STA.
! The secret of success in provincial gov
ernorship appearssto be to avoid oppr essing
| the poor, TO keep the provincial magnates
in a constant state of active rivalry one
with another, and one by one to squeeze
them dry. Such was the policy of the
Imad-u- Dowlet His decisions were mover
manifeStly unjust in the many serious cases.
civil or criminal, which came under his
notice Both parties bribed heavily as a
matter of course, but i'll the end substantial
| justice would ba administered. The Kings
uncle was a human man, and did not as a
rule take more than double the amount of
| the taxes due To the Crown from the
rayats. But it is nevertheless true that
! little by Little ths actuul lr,slolds of th ,
vast and fertile lands in the entire valley of
kermanshah became the private property
of the pillar OF the State.
The old Governor was very rich. and per-
hapS LITTLE parSimoliouS too. Rather I'M
wisely he built shortly before his death, an
immense palace OF coarse he hal to pre-
sent it to the King when ms evil day ar
rived. as it did at length. Much against
his grain. he was com92iled To proce "a to
Teheran 10 render an account of his stew
! ardship; then decorously, but firmly, the
Shan squeezed him aud took every farthing
he had in the world. as was the royal right.
But the King was merclful; he allowed has
uncle 20 die in hts bed.